Air conditioning apparatus



Aug. 29, 1939- G. GRIFFITHS AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1938 :EFE 5 INVENTOR. 9 1 4 56/:

ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1939. G. GRIFFITHS 2,171,033

I AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 18, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 2 J 30% I 1 2 29 [l 7 58 t 5151? JNVENTOR. f wgw gi M ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1939. s. GRIFFITHS AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb.. 18, 1938 ATTORNEY 7 L pa eniea'Aa 29.1939

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlc My invention relates broadly to air conditioning apparatusand more particularly'to an improved and relatively inexpensive construction of air conditioning apparatus which; may be readily installed in homes, omces, hospitals, and other places for maintaining proper temperature and humidity conditions.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of air conditioning apparatus which may be readily and inexpensively installed for conditioning air in confined spaces during both the winter and summer seasons and which includes a thermostatically controlled air circulator and means for interposing in the circulating path of air currents either a heat source or a cold medium.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of mounting means for air conditioning apparatus which is arranged to interchangeably receive either a heat source or a cooling medium and present the same in the path of a forced draft of air located in a predetermined position with respect to a confined area.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of air'c'onditioning apparatus which includes mounting means for alternately presenting either a heat source or a cooling medium in the path of a thermostatically controlledforced draft of air and including means for mechanically balancing the mass of the heat source draft of air in a predetermined position adjacent the top of a confined air space with mechanically balanced means for adjustably presenting either a heat source or a cooling medium in the path of the forced draft of air for thermostatically controlling healthful temperatures and humidity within the confined space.

' A still further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for increasing the healthfulness of the air in a confined space by establishing a thermostatically controlled forced draft of air and adjustably positioning either a heat source or a cooling mediumin the path .of the forced draft of air so that the temperature and humidity of the room may be maintained .at an even level.

Another object of my invention is to provide an air conditioning apparatus which is particu- :larly suitable for hospitals and the like because of the ability of the apparatus to circulate medicated vapors under constant conditions of temperature and humidity.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of air conditioning apparatus having the ability to purify air throughout a relatively large confined space and circulate vapors having high medicinal values for patients suffering from various diseases in which medicinal vapors have been found to have high restorative and curative properties.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in a construction of a practical form of air conditioning apparatus suitable for domestic use, office use, and hospitalization, as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in g which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the air conditioning apparatus of my invention in a position in which an ice block is being loaded upon the carrier, preparatory to movement under control of the counterbalance system to a position in the path of the forced draft of air from the circulating fan; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the ice block moved to an elevated position in the path of the forced draft of air from the air circulating fan 31 Fig. 3 is a front view of the air conditioning apparatus in the position illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the air conditioning apparatus of my invention, used with a heat source and humidifier with the heat source and humidifier shown in vertical section and in a loading position preparatory to adjustment into a position in the path of the air circulating fan; Fig. 9 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the heat source and humidifier elevated to a position in the path of the forced draft of air and showing the automatic electrical connecting means .for establishing connection from the power supply to the heat source when the heat source and humidifier are elevated to a position in the path of the air circulating fan; Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view illustrating the automatic circuit control mechanism whereby the circuit is closed to the heat source when the heat source and humidifier are raised to a position in the path action of the forced draft of air over the block a convenient'position near the floor and allow 65 of the air circulating fan; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view similar. to Fig. 11 showing the manner in which the circuit to the heat source is broken as the carrier for the heat source and humidifier is lowered to loading position; and Figs. 13, 14

and 15' are views showing the humidifier unit which may be substituted for the ice block or the heat source under conditions where it is unnecessary to supply either heat or cold, but Where it is desirable to provide the desired humidity condition in a confined area.

My invention has been developed after years.

of research during which I have observed the beneficial effects obtained in homes in the tropics in which forced drafts of air have been directed obliquely over blocks of ice in which medicants and essences of vaporizable fluids have been frozen. The medicated vapors are released by 'of ice and are positively circulated throughout a confined area for producing very beneficial, res- I tor'ative and curative effects to a patient. Under conditions of temperaturesin the, tropics over a range of approximately 87 F. to 120 F., I have observed the beneficial eifects'obtained bydirecting forced drafts of air over blocks of 'ice for reducing the temperatures to more endurable working temperatures. Moreover, I have found that the inclusion of perfume or pine, cedar or citrus oil in the water from which the block of ice is. frozen provides a cooling'medium which produces a marked freshness in the atmosphere. During the winter season in which the atmosphere must beheated, I have found highly beneficial effects arising out of an arrangementwhereby a forced draft of air is directed over a heat sourcewith which is associated, a medicated vaporizable material for imparting to the atmosphere a. quality of healthfulness and a-proper degree of humidity under conditions of desired temperature. Having investigated various arrangements 'of both air cooling and air heating, I devised the air'conditioning apparatus of my present invention for conveniently enabling suitable temperature and humidity conditions to be imparted to the atmosphere in the oflicc, home, hospital or area.- Iprovide a mechanically balanced support which is suitable for moving a relatively heavy mass from a level convenient for a loading position near the floor to a-p'osition in the forced draft of air adjacent the' ceiling of the confined area without much effort. The, apparatus is suit- I able for installation as a single unit adjacent the staircase of a home for circulating either cooling or heating currents of air through all floors of the home. The balanced loading device is adapted to receive a relatively heavy blockof ice in the block of ice to be readily elevated to a position inthe path of the forced draft of air. The

- block of ice is frozen from a fluid which contains a suitable'vaporizable medicant, perfume, odorizer or other substance to be disseminated in the atmosphere. 'My experience in the Bahamas showed that the use of citronella in the block of ice had a marked effectin eliminating the annoyances of insects and mosquitoes. The condensate from the block of ice is suitably removed from time to time through a removable tray,

conditions of temperature changes.

control circuit for controlling the forced draftof air in accordance with humidity conditions. During the winter season when the atmosphere is to be heated, the carrier intended for the support of the ice block is removed and a carrier adapted to support a heat source and a humidifier is substituted. The mechanically balanced mechanism enables the heat source and humidifier to be loaded on the support in a convenient position near the fioor and elevated with practically no effort whatever to operative position in the path of the forced draft of air. Where the heat source is electrical the resistors are connected in circuit with the power source through a thermostatic control member which maybe the same thermostatic control member which controls the driving motor operating the fan which creates the forced draft of air. I may provide an auxiliary thermostat in circuit with the resistors which control the energization of the resistors in accordance with temperature requirements. The special auxiliary thermostat may be so adjusted that the current supply to the resistors may be cut off at apredetermined time interval before the fan is shut down, thereby allowing the fan to disseminate efficiently the residual heat which may remain in the resistors after the actual current supply to the "resistors has been cut off; Where the heat source is a gas heater, the flow of gas to the heater may be controlled through a flexible tube connection with a gas valve interposed between the connection and the gas supply with suitable means for controlling the operationof the gas valve in accordance with temperature conditions. I may employ an electromagnetically actuated gas valve controlled by either the main or the auxiliary thermostat, or I may employ a control device of the well known sylphon type adapted to directly control the gas valve under The heat source is adjustably positioned in the path of the forced draft of air without more than the application of slight effort, as the mechanical system is so well balanced that little human efiort is necessary to either lower or raise the support carrying either the heat source or the cooling medium to their correct positions.

In order to render the transportation and installation of ice blocks more convenient, I provide a special core structure or carrier around which the ice is frozen. The carrier constitutes a skeleton frame of rust-proof material which is'submerged in the fluid to be frozen and then subjected to the freezing process. The final blocks thus produced are readily manufactured and supplied by any ordinary ice manufacturing company. The installation of the ice block is greatly simplified by merely picking up the block from the top of the carrier and depositing the block upon the movable support formed by the mechanically balanced system which is subsequently raised to a position in the path of the medical essences and is exposed to a forced draft .15

of the fan so that the atmosphere may be impregnated with the desirable air purifier, medicants or perfumes as may be desired.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference character I designates the vertically disposed support which may be mounted adjacent the wall of a room or other confining enclosure. The support is suitably secured to a vertically disposed supporting surface by any suitable attachment means indicated generally at 2 which extend into the wall surface indicated generally at 3. The support I is provided with guide rails 4 which extend vertically and serve as guide means for either the carrier 5 indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, or the carrier 5 indicated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The carrier 5 has side portions which engage the rails 4 as indicated at 1. structure of the carrier 5 is such that substantial rigidity is imparted to the horizontally extending portion 8 while preserving lightness. The structure 5 is relatively light by reason of the side cutaway portions 9 thereof which are suitably ornamented to add to the aesthetic qualities of the structure. The horizontally extending portion 8 is provided with a shelf-like mounting means In adapted to receive the ice block shown generally at l2. The shelf-like portion I0, as shown in Fig. 7, is provided with a multiplicity of diagonally extending drain passages |4 directed toward the center of the shelf-like portion and inclined to provide for a drain of condensate from the ice block l2 into the drip pan |5. The drip pan l5 has horizontally projecting flanges l6 which engage with the horizontally extending angle members secured to the carrier 5. The drip pan I5 is readily removable from angle members H by grasping handle l8 and withdrawing the drip pan from the carrier 5. If it is not convenient to remove the drip pan IS, the condensate may be drained therefrom by opening drain cock l9 and catching the fluid in a suitable receptacle. The carrier for the ice block indicated at I, is provided with a vertically extending guard 20 which serves to maintain the ice block in position.

The ice block is frozen from a fluid containing suitable quantities of essences or medicines added to water, as will insure the dissemination of beneficial vapors. As heretofore noted, I may include in the water from which the ice block is frozen, perfumes, pine, cedar or citrus oils, citronella, or other vaporizable medicines. To provide a convenient mounting means for the ice block, I utilize a skeleton frame of rust-proof material formed-from a' multiplicity of spaced members 2| interconnected by angularly disposed members 22 and terminating in a hookshaped member 23 at the top thereof which facilitates handling of the mass of ice. The carrier 5 is arranged to slide vertically with respect to the guide rails 4 and is operated under control of a suitable counter-weight mechanism indicated generally by counter-weight 24 connected through flexible cable 25 which operates over pulley 26, journalled in support and passing through the support I, and establishes connection with carrier 5 as indicated at 21. The mass of counter-weight 24 is calculated with respect to the average mass of the ice block l2 to insure efiective counter-balance of the average size of ice block l2 which may be normally loaded upon the carrier 5. Accordingly, the carrier 5 may be lowered to a position illustrated in Fig. 1 for receiving the ice block and then elevated with substantially no effort to the position illustrated The in Fig. 2 and then set'in a selected elevated position by means of set screw 28.

The support serves as a mounting means for an electrically driven fan. I have shown the fan comprising a support 29 which is mounted on the top of support The support 29 carries driving motor 39, driven shaft of which carries the air circulating fan 3|. In order to avoid smudging of the walls and ceiling when the fan 3| is mounted in the corner of a room, I provide a protective hood shown at 32 which is shaped to conform with the casing of the driving motor 30. The hood 32 has an end portion 33 encompassing the motor casing and suitably mounted with respect thereto. The end wall of the protective hood 32 is suitably apertured at 34 for insuring complete circulation and re-circulation of air currents throughout the area which is conditioned by the apparatus of my invention. The ice block l2 when elevated to the desired upper position is presented in the path of the forced draft of air established by the air circulating fan 3|, thereby cooling the draft of air forced from the fan 3|. The driving motor 3| is electrically energized from the power supply circuit which I have indicated generally at 35. A suitable thermostatic control device 36 is interposed in circuit between the power supply system 35 and driving motor 30 connected through suitable terminal box 31 and conductors 38. Under conditions of relatively low temperature, the fan is shut down, but as the temperature rises, the thermostat completes the circuit to the driving motor, starting up the fan and circulating the air over the ice block.

The replenishing of the ice block after the ice has melted is an extremely simple process by reason of the precision counter-balancing of the carrier 5, which may be readily lowered to loading position and the consumed ice block replaced by a fresh block of ice.

When the air conditioning apparatus is-used' during the colder seasons, I provide the arrangements illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, in which a heat source 39 is mounted on carrier 5 as shown. The heat source may comprise any desired arrangement of heating resistors shown generally at 39, mounted on any suitable frame 4|). The frame 40 also supports a humidifier pan 4| which is suitably spaced by frame members 42 from the frame 40, allowing the circulation of air currents beneath the humidifier pan 4|. The humidifier pan 4| may receive a suitable vaporizable fluid which may contain a quantity of medicant, perfume, pine, cedar, or citrus oil, or other vaporizable mixture. The carrier 5 is provided with an insulated terminal block 43 carrying contacts 44 which connect to opposite ends of the resistor 39. The carrier 6 also carries an arm 45 which is adapted to actuate the toggle switch 46 as the carrier 5 moves to the desired upper limit to close an electrical circuit through the heater 39 and open the electrical circuit when the carrier 6 is lowered from the desired uppermost position. The electrical circuit to the heater 39 is completed by means of wiping contact effected by contact members 41 engaging resilient contacts 44 on carrier 6 in the uppermost position of the carrier 6. Electrical connections 48 extend from terminal box 3'! through contacts 49 of toggle switch 46 which are closed when carrier 6 is in the uppermost position and are open when carrier 5 is lowered to a position for filling the humidifier pan 4| or removing or repairing the heater constituted by resistors 39.

It is understood that in lieu of the electrical heater shown, I may employ a gas heater in which connections are established to the gas burner through a flexible gas supply line. The carrier 6 in lowermost position enables adjustment to be made on the gas heater which is subsequently raised to uppermost position. The heat source used in uppermost position is positioned in the path of the forced draft of air from fan 3!, enabling heat to be disseminated throughout the area to be conditioned. The thermostatic device 36 controls not only the motor 36 but also the circuit to the resistors 39 or, in the case of a gas heater, an electrical control circuit to a gas supply valve. In lieu of the central thermostatic device 36, I may provide an auxiliary thermostatic control for the heater, thus permitting different settings of the thermostatic device and allowing the driving fan to run for a predetermined time after the heat source has been shut ofi in order to fully utilize all of the stored heat.

Under conditions wherein it is unnecessary to supply either heat or coldjI employ a humidifier of the general construction shown in Figs.' 13, 14 and 15. The humidifier may take various forms and the construction illustrated is represented only for the purposes of example. The humidifier comprises a tray 56 which may be readily supported by either the carrier 5 or the carrier 6. The tray 50 has a framework 5| projecting therefrom which supports a multiplicity of cloth members 52 which extend into the fluid bath 53 in tray 50 and serve by capillary attraction to present a saturated surface over which air may be forced through the rows of cloth members 52 arranged in a serpentine path. The passage of air through the rows of cloth members 52 in a serpentine course enables the air to accumulate moisture from the cloth members 52 saturated by capillary attraction and impart the desired humidity condition to the air. I may introduce into the tray 50, any desired medicinal fluid or essence such as pine oil, cedar oil, citronella, or other vaporizable material.

One of the important features of my invention is that the parts are readily transportable and may be readily installed in a home. The parts are light in weight and are readily replaceable and interchangeable. The counterweight '24 may be readily changed and replaced with a counterweight of difierent mass in accordance with the relative mass of the ice block or the heat source which is to be elevated into operative position.

The air conditioning apparatus when used for purposes of cooling does not require replenishing of the ice block'except at quite substantial time intervals. My experience at very substantial temperatures in the tropics has been that an ice block of one hundred pounds has been efiective over a period of several hours.

As heretofore observed, I may employ a gas heater in lieu of an electric heater, in which event a flexible tubular conduit extends from the gas heater on the carrier 6 to a gas supply line adjacent the support I with an electromagnetically controlled gas valve interposed between the heater and the gas supply. The thermostatic control device 36 or its equivalent is employed to control the electromagnetically actuated valve or its equivalent for controlling the gas supply to the gas heater. In installations employing a gas heater, the flame of the heater is protected from the direct force of the air from the air circulating fan 3! by a suitable cover device which is heated by the gas heater and provides the hot body over which the forced draft of air is circulated. I

While I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and I desire no limitations upon my invention except as may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In an air conditioning apparatus, in combination, a wall fixture consisting of an enclosed channel portion and an extended rail portion vertically mounted adjacent the wall of a room and extending from a position adjacent the floor,

to a position adjacent the ceiling, an air circulator mounted on said fixture at the upper end thereof, a carrier for an air conditioning device slidable on said rail portion of said fixture, counterbalancing means 'for said carrier within said channel portion of said fixture andoperatively connected with said carrierysaid carrier being movable to a lowered position adjacent the floor of the-room, in which position the air conditioning device may be serviced or replaced, and to an elevated position adjacent the ceiling of the room in which position the air conditioning device is in cooperable relation to said air circulator; and control means for the aircirculator mounted on said channel portion of said fixture adjacent the upper end thereof and having a control member engaged by said carrier for operation thereby in movement into and out of said elevated position.

2. In an air conditioning apparatus, in combination, a. wall fixture including a rail portidn vertically mounted adjacent the wall of a room and extending from a position adjacent the floor to a position adjacent the ceiling, an electrically operated air circulator mounted adjacent the upper end of said fixture; a carrier for an air conditioning device slidably mounted on the rail portion of said fixture and movable to a lowered position adjacent the floor of the room, in which position the air conditioning device may be serviced or replaced, and to an elevated position adjacent the ceiling of the room, in which position the air conditioning device is effective; and control means for the electrically operated air circulator mounted on said wall fixture ad jacent the upper end thereof and having a control member engaged by said carrier in elevated position and operable by said carrier in move;- ment into and out of said elevated position for when said carrier is in elevated position.

GWYN GRIFFITHS. 

